Manual adapter for automatic chokes



A. L. COULTER MANUAL ADAPTER FOR AUTOMATIC CHOKES Sept, 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l, 1950 [nf/E27 L Dr' @ZLber L. C0 @iter Sept 2l, 1954 A. L. COULTER 2,689,582

MANUAL ADAPTER FOR AUTQMATIC CHOKES Filed Feb. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JUVEULUF @libr L COzgef Sept 21, 1954 A1., COULTER 2,689,582

MANUAL ADAPTER FOR AUTOMATIC CHOKES Filed Feb. l, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnl/577i DF 'QA/@befLCO/@Zf 72 55; @JMZWEE Patented Sept. 21, 1954 MANUAL ADAPTER FOR AUTOMATIC CHO KES

Albert L. Coulter, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 1, 1950, Serial No. 141,776

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a manual adapter for an automatic choke and more particularly to manual control means for replacing a thermostatic automatic choke control element for an internal combustion engine.

Several types of thermostatically-operated automatic choke controls for internal combustion engines, such as the conventional automobile engine, have been proposed and are commercially available. However, such controls are often unsatisfactory under certain Weather conditions, such as in starting the engine in cold weather. The delayed response of the thermostatic control to engine operating conditions and the impossibility of independently controlling the richness of the fuel-air mixture fed to the combustion chamber of the engine are added disadvantages of such automatically operated choke controls.

The present invention now provides an adapter unit which may be readily installed on the carburetor of an automobile engine to replace an originally supplied thermostatically-controlled automatic choke control. The adapter o the present invention may be employed with various types of carburetors which are now commercially available, and a relatively small number of adapter types may serve to convert a large number of carburetor types to manual control.

In addition, the present invention provides a choke utter control which prevents flooding of the engine with excessive fuel, even though ,the choke valve is manually closed. This Hutter control preferably takes the form of means resiliently biasing the choke to closed position While accommodating opening movement of the choke valve to permit the passage of air through the carburetor to thin out an excessively rich fuel mix,- ture fed to the engine under excessive manifold vacuums.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved manual choke adapter for thermostatic-type automatic choke control.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an adapter unit for converting an automatic thermostatically-controlled choke to a manually controlled unit,I thereby eliminating the undesirable characteristics of the thermostatically-controlled unit.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an improved manual choke control provided with a resilient flutter control for preventing ooding of an internal combustion engine with an excessively rich fuel mixture.

Still another important object of the present (Cl. IS7- 484) invention is to provide an improved manual control for a carburetor choke valve for an internal combustion engine including resilient means biasing the choke valve to closed position. while permitting opening of the choke Valve by excessive manifold vacuum in the engine, thereby admitting air to the engine to preserve a desired fuelair ratio in the combustion mixture fed to the engine.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a carburetor provided with a choke control adapter of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, or the carburetor unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the operation of the control of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the adapter of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional vieW, with parts shown in elevation, of a ilutter control for an adapter of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the adapter of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side elevational View of a different type carburetor provided With a modied form of the adapter of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 7 illustrating the adapter of Figure 7 mounted upon a slightly diierent form of carburetor;

Figure l0 is a sectional View, with parts shown in elevation taken along the plane X-X of Figure 9 Figure 11 is a plan elevational View of the adapter of Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the adapter of Figure 1l;

Figure 13 is a side elevational View of an additional modied form of adapter of the present invention;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional View, with parts shown in elevation of the adapter of Figure 13;

Figure l5 is a side elevational View of still another modied form of the adapter of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a plan elevational View of the adapter and carburetor ci Figure 15 Figure 17 is a sectional View, with parts shown in elevation, taken along the plane XVII-XVII of Figure and Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure l2 showing a modified form of actuating arm.

As shown on the drawings:

Reference numeral Il! refers generally to a carburetor of the type generally employed in automotive internal combustion engines. The carburetor Iil includes an upper air horn II having an interior air inlet passage i2 (Figures 2 and 3), a central fuel mixing portion I3 and a lower outlet portion i4 having a lower terminal flange I5 adapted for connection to the intake manifold of an engine.

The air inlet passage I2 is controlled by a choke buttery valve i6 mounted on a rotatable actuating shaft Il extending radially across the passage I2 and secured to an upstanding bell crank arm I3 having an outturned terminal flange IS.

inasmuch as the carburetor IG is initially equipped with a thermostatically-controlled automatic choke, a generally cylindrical housing 2@ is provided along the side of the air inlet horn il, the housing surrounding the bell crank arm it. The housing 2@ is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced radially extending bosses 2! normally employed to secure a housing cover on the housing 23, thereby confining a conventional coil spring-type thermostatic element therein for connection to the crank arm I8. Upon removal of the cover (not shown) and the removal of the thermostatic element (not shown) the housing 2c may be employed for the attachment of an adapter unit of the present invention.

In Figures l-5, inclusive, reference numeral 22 refers generally to an adapter unit bracket including a base arm 23, a rst angularly displaced arm 24, a web arm parallel to the base arm 23, and a second angularly displaced arm 2S terminating in an outturned terminal arm 21. The bracket is secured by suitable means, as by screws 23 passing through registering apertures in the arms 24 and 27 and the bosses 2 I. It will be noted that the web arm 25 underlies the crank arm I3 in spaced relationthereto to permit pivoting movement of the crank arm through its entire operating arm (Figures 1 and 3).

The base arm 23 carries a cable bracket 29 projecting thereabove and secured thereto by suitable means, as by screws 30. The web arm 25 carries an arm 3| attaching thereto by means of a pivot pin or rivet 32. The arm 3| is provided with an aperture 33 for receiving the terminal end of the crank arm I8, and the arm 3l is longitudinally slotted, as at 34, at that end remote from the pivot pin 32. An additional projection 35, formed integrally with the arm 3| and apertured as at 355, extends normally to an intermediate portion of the arm 3l between the pivot pin 32 and the aperture 33. The crank arm terminai end ISl'of various types of carburetors may be alternately received by either of the apertures 33 or 36.

The slot 34 of the arm 3| slidably journals a block 3l (Figures 4 and 5) provided with a projection 38 (Figure 2) extending into and bottomed within the slot. The block 3l is provided with a longitudinally extending, generally cylindrical housing 38 having a piston 39 journaled therein for reciprocating movement against the inuence of a coil spring 4!) confined between the piston and the housing. That end of the piston 39 projecting beyond the housing 38 is axially bored as at 4I to receive an actuating rod or wire 42 secured in the piston by means of a set screw 43 threadedly retained by a screw block 44 for engagement with the rod 42. rhe actuating wire 42 is enclosed within a conventional flexible cable housing 45 of the Bowden-type.

The operation of the hereinbefore described embodiment of the invention will be understood from reference to the drawings l and 3. When the choke control rod or wire s2 is in its normal inoperative position, the choke valve I5 is open and air flow through the air inlet horn il and the air inlet passage I2 is accommodated. Upon actuation of the rod 42, the valve le is gradually :closed in accordance with movement of the rod to the final full closed position'as indicated in dotted outline in Figure 3 of the drawing, which occurs at the fully retracted position of the actuating arm 42. It will be noted that the closing movement of the valve is accommodated by pivoting movement of the arm 3| about the pivot stem or rivet 32. Thus, pivoting movement of the arm 3| causes corresponding movement of the crank arm I8 by reason of engagement of the arm with the terminal end I9 of the crank arm inserted in the aperture 33. Little resistance is offered to this closing movement of the valve I5, particularly prior to the starting of the engine.

The flutter control is employed to vent the intake manifold of the engine to air when excessive vacuums are generated in the manifold to thereby prevent the feeding of excessive fuel to the manifold, and consequent ooding of the engine is likewise prevented. This flutter control is provided by the spring-urged piston 39 disposed within the housing 38. The over-balanced valve I6 will be urged open under the differential pressure conditions set up upon the generation of excessive vacuums in the manifold with consequent pivoting movement of the valve IS about its shank I'I. This pivoting movement of the valve is accommodated by the spring 46 which is resiliently compressed upon movement of the housing 33 relative to the piston 39 to permit pivoting movement of the arm 3I to its dotted position in Figure 3 without corresponding movement of the actuating rod 42. In this manner, the valve IS may be cracked or slightly opened to its dotted position Ilia (Figure 3), while the actuating rod 42 remains in its full open position.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing wherein the device 22 has been modified by the addition of a separate link arm 46 to the terminal arm 2l. The link arm 46 is secured to the terminal arm 21 by means of screw 4l, while an additional screw 48 is employed to secure the link arm to a projection 0r boss 49 formed on the housing 2D, This arrangement is employed in conjunction with those carburetors of such design that the apertures in the arms 23 and 2l do not register with the corresponding apertured embossments 2I of the housing 2Q. It will thus be appreciated that the arrangement of the bracket 22 and the apertures thereof, particularly when employed in conjunction with the additional arm 46, permit the adaption of the unit to a relatively large number of carburetors of varying design and overall shape.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7-10, inclusive, wherein a modified adapter unit is illustrated as employed with a slightly different form of carburetor. The reference numeral 50 refers generally to a carburetor in which the normally provided thermostatic choke control is vertically displaced from 5. the choke valve. More particularly, in the carburetor 50, a choke crank arm I is secured to an elongated choke actuating arm 52, which in turn was initially actuated by a thermostatic control. In the present invention, the actuating arm 52 is secured, as by a cotter pin 53, to a manual control arm 54 pivoted at 55 to an upturned bracket flange 56 carried by a generally horizontal bracket arm 51 which in turn is secured to a mounting flange 58 (Figure 8) on the carburetor 5|)` by suitable means, as by a screw 59 and a nut 60. The bracket 51 is in extended surface contact with the flange 58 land carries thereon an upstanding cable bracket 6I bearing a spiral-type cable housing 62 and an actuating wire 63 secured to the arm 54 by suitable means, as by an attaching stud 54.

A modified form of control arm 54 is shown in Figure 18, the arm 54 being provided with an enlarged free terminal end 54a having a plurality of `arcuately aligned apertures 54h to permit the utilization of various lengths of actuating arm 52, thus adapting 'the arm 54 for use with several types of carburetors.

In Figures 8, 10 yand l1, it will be noted that the bracket 51 is notched as at `66 adjacent its point of attachment to the fiange 58 to accommodate an embossment -61 projecting transversely from the exterior surface of the carburetor 50. The operation of the device described in connection with Figures 7-10, inclusive, will be evident from the foregoing description, although ythe illustrated type of attachment does not have the flutter control such as hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1-6', inclusive. The utility of the notch 66 Iadapted for various types of carburetors will be appreciated -by those skilled in the art, particularly since the notch greatly increases the utility of the device without interfering with its attachment to those carburetors not having the embossment 61. Further, it will be noted that the arcuate bracket contact surface 68, which abuts the rounded exterior of the fuelair mixture outlet portion of the carburetor, makes possible elongated contact between the bracket and the carburetor, thus increasing the stability of the assembly. This feature of the invention is particularly illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings, and the wide adaptability of this type of bracket will be appreciated.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 3 and 14, certain reference numerals are identical with those of Figures 1-6, inclusive, and refer to identical portions of the device. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the bracket is `defined by an angularly displaced arm 10 secured to the housing 20 by suitable means, as by screw 1I. The arm 10 carries a cable housing 29 secured to the bracket by screws 30 and receiving therethrough a cable housing 45 having an axially extending control rod or wire 42. The bracket 10 is provided with an upwardly projecting portion 13 having pivoted thereto an elbow arm 14, one terminal portion of which is pivotally secured to the projection 13 by suitable means,l

as by pivot pin or rivet 15. One terminal end of the arm 14 is apertured at 15 yto receive the crank arm terminal end I9 while the other end of the arm 14 is pivoted to a spring housing 11.

As illustrated in greater detail `in Figure 14, the housing 11 is provided with axial recess 18 communicating with a bore 19 slidably receiving the actuating wire 42 therethrough. A terminal block 80 is secured to the actuating wire 42 by suitable means, as by set screw 8|, and the block is adapted to receiprocate within the housing recess 18 against the action of a coil spring 82. A second :block 83 is telescoped over 'the control wire 42 to abut that end of the housing 11 adjacent the cable housing 29, the block 83 being secured to the control wire 42 extending therethrough 'by means of a set screw 84.

The operation of this form of the invention willA be readily yappreciated inasmuch as actuation of thev wire 42 closes the choke valve I2 as hereinbefore explained, with the resilient spring 82 accommodating flutter movement of ithe valve to prevent flooding of the eng-ine with excessive fuel, in substantially the same manner as the spring 4G hereinbefore described in 'connection with the embodiment of Figures 1-5, inclusive, of the drawings. Upon such fluttering or venting movement of the valve i2, the housing 11 will be telescoped over the block to compress the spring 82. Upon the venting of the manifold vacuum to air and the consequent feeding of a correctly proportioned fuel-air combustion mixture to the engine, the spring 82 will be effective to return the valve I2 to its closed position without disturbing the position of the `actuating Wire 42.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, the choke valve I6 is mounted upon a shaft I1 as hereinbefore -aescribed, with the exception that the shaft I1 is not Iprovided with a terminal flange. In this e-mbodiment of 'the invention, the shaft I1 is hollow and a shaft terminal portion |00 projects radially outwardly beyond the air horn I I.

The device of the present invention includes a bracket 99 having a lateral flange 9| secured to a corresponding flange 92 of the carburetor by suitable means, as by screw 93. The bracket also carries an upstanding cable housing 94 adapted to receive a control cable 42 and its housing 45 as hereinbefore described, and a second upstanding ilange 95 is adapted to retain an angular actuating arm 95 pivoted thereto, as at 91. One end of the arm 96 receives an actuating arm 98, which is secured to an upstanding arm 99 secured to the shaft extension IUD of the shaft I1. Since the normal shaft eX- tension |90 initially provided for the shaft I1 terminates short of the vertical plane of the arm 96, a shaft coupling or extension collar |04 is telescoped over the free end of the extension |99. A fastening pin I D3 (Figure 1'1) having an integral radial key |95 is inserted through the bore of the coupling |94 and the arm 99 into the interior of the hollow extension |30. The keyed pin |93 thus secures the arm 99 and extension |90 for co-rotation. A second radial key |96 on the pin |03 secures the pin and the arm 96 for co-rotation.

The actuating member 42 is secured to the angular arm 96 through a resilient flutter accommodating device such as that hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 1.4 and including a housing 11, a block 8i) and a spring in the housing 11 (not shown).

The operation of the device of Figures 15 and 16 will be evident to those skilled in the art in` asmuch as any flutter movement of 'the choke valve is accommodated by means of the flutter accommodating device and actuation of the manual actuation of the choke valve by manipulation of the control rod 42 may be accomplished through the arm 99.

It will be understood that modications and variations may be effected Without departing from the scope of the novelA concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carburetor including an air horn having a pivotal choke valve therein and a crank arm connected to said valve, said arm having an outturned terminal iiange, a bracket'secured to said horn, an actuator arm pivoted to said bracket and supported thereby and having an aperture receiving said outturned terminal ange, said aperture and said flange being of substantially the same width, thereby to provide a positive connection between said arms, an actuator rod slidably journaled by said bracket and supported thereby, and means connecting said rod and said actuator arm including a spring supported by said bracket and yieldable when said rod is moved in a valve-closing direction and yieldable to allow movement of said valve towards its open position under influence of pressures on said valve.

2. In a carburetor including an air horn having a pivotal choke valve therewithin and a crank arm connected. to said valve, said arm having an outturned terminal flange, a bracket secured to said horn, an actuator arm pivoted on said bracket and supported thereby rfor movement about an axis substantially aligned with the axis of said choke valve crank arm and having an aperture receiving said outturned terminal ange, said aperture and said flange being of substantially the same Width thereby to provide a positive connection between said arms, an actuator rod supported by said bracket and slidably journaled by said bracket, and means connecting said rod and said actuator arm including a spring supported by said bracket and yieldable when said rod is moved in a valve-closing direction and yieldable to allow movement of said valve towards its open position under influence of pressures on said valve.

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